THE LADY PAMELA HICKS (née Mountbatten)
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Pamela & David Hicks with their children - Edwina, baby India & Ashley

Pamela & David Hicks with their children in 1967 -

(left to right) Edwina, baby India held by Pamela

& Ashley on is father's lap

Edwina Brudenell

(née Hicks)

Ashley Hicks

India Flint Wood

(née Hicks)

Britwell-House-in-Britwell-Salome-Oxfordshire-exterior.jpg

Britwell House, Britwell Salome, South Oxfordshire

Shortly after David and Pamela's marriage in 1960, they purchased and 18th Century Georgian manor house - Britwell House, Britwell Salome in South Oxfordshire. David transformed the interiors and used the house for inspiration and to trial out ideas. The family lived there until 1979, when they sold the house and contents and moved to 'The Grove', a smaller house nearby. David spent the last 18yrs of his life developing the gardens, creating new vistas and 'rooms'.

Pamela & David's home - The Grove, nr Brightwell Baldwin, South Oxfordshire

ABOVE: David & Pamela's home - 'The Grove',

near Brightwell Baldwin, South Oxfordshire

BELOW: A short film of gardening

journalist Rosemary Verey's visit

to 'The Grove' where David Hicks

shows her aroundthe garden he designed

Pamela and David Hicks had the following children -

Mrs Edwina Victoria Louise Brudenell (née Hicks), born 24th December 1961 at King's College Hospital, London - a god-daughter of Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952-2022) and Queen Louise of Sweden, formerly Princess Louise of Battenberg (1889-1965)

Ashley Louis David Hicks, born 18th July 1963 at King's College Hospital, London - a god-son of Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021)

Mrs India Amanda Caroline Flint Wood (née Hicks), born 5th September 1967 at King's College Hospital, London - a god-daughter of King Charles III (1948(2022- )

David-Pamela-Ashley-Edwina-India-Hicks-family-photo.jpg

Pamela & David Hicks with their children

(left to right) Ashley, India

(either side of Pamela)
and seated in front Edwina

David Hicks at his desk in the library at
Britwell House, Britwell Salome,

South Oxfordshire

David Hicks

David was a chain smoker and following a stroke, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and died on 29th March 1998. Pamela was to comment after his death - "He was an absolute volcano to live with, but so life enhancing." She said - "I already miss his slamming of doors. David filled your sails with his enthusiasms. When I met him, I was visually blind, always with my nose in a book. He opened my eyes." At his own request, David's coffin lay in his garden pavilion prior to his funeral, which he arranged himself, spelling out the arrangements in a book that he made called “The Demise of David Hicks”. His coffin (which he designed himself) was made of sycamore and without any handles as they were apparently "frightfully common" and was carried to his final resting place on an ivy-covered trailer attached to his Range Rover. On his final journey, David was wearing a 'David Hicks pattern' tie, and his pockets were stuffed with his obituaries and press clippings.

In 2007, Pamela published her memoirs of her days in India with her father and the transition into independence in "India Remembered: A Personal Account of the Mountbattens During the Transfer of Power." In 2012, she published the second volume of her memoirs titled "Daughter of Empire: Life as a Mountbatten", chronicling her childhood, more of her time in India, and her time as Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952-2022). Pamela has from time to time given interviews about her parents and her first hand memories and insight was used as a major source of inspiration for the 2017 film "The Viceroy's House".

Pamela (who was 93yrs in April 2022) is very a much a private person, despite her royal relations and being in the line of succession to the Throne. Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952-2022), Pamela is the only person alive to witness the events of the day The Queen was informed of her father's death and her succession to the Throne. In recent times, she has recalled via the Instagram pages of her daughter - India (b.1967), numerous tales and stories of her youth, in particular the private 'behind close doors' tales of her father - Mountbatten, her mother - Edwina, and her relationship with her cousin Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021) and her role as friend, confidante, cousin and Lady-in-Waiting to The Queen. As a result, she has acquired a quasi "national treasure" status.

On 29th March 2022, a Memorial Service was held at Westminster Abbey, London to honour and commemorate the life of Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021). The clergy who officiated were - The Very Rev. David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster (b.1957), Dean of Windsor, The Rt Rev David Conner (b.1947), Dean of Windsor and The Most Rev & Rt Hon. Justin Welby (b.1956), Archbishop of Canterbury. As the Covid restrictions had been lifted, it was therefore possible for those members of the UK and European Royal Families unable to attend the funeral at St George's Chapel to attend this Service. The congregation was led by The Queen - who was controversially accompanied by Prince Andrew, The Duke of York (b.1960). She wore a shade of 'Edinburgh Green' as a tribute to Philip's official livery.

Members of the Mountbatten/Knatchbull Family who attended Prince Philip's Memorial Service included - George, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven, accompanied by The Marchioness; Lord Ivar Mountbatten & Mr James Coyle; Penny, Countess Mountbatten of Burma; Mr & Mrs Nicholas Knatchbull (Lord & Lady Brabourne); The Lady Alexandra Hooper & Mr Thomas Hooper; The Hon. Philip Knatchbull; The Hon. Mr & Mrs Timothy Knatchbull; Mr Ashley Hicks; Mr & Mrs David Flint Wood.